Which languages does Voice Access support?

Voice Access in Windows 11 supports 15 languages and dialects, according to Microsoft's setup page ¹. The list includes six English variants, two Spanish, two French, two Chinese, German, Japanese and Italian. Portuguese is not on it, in any variant. If you need Portuguese or a language outside this list, voice typing on Windows 11 has a longer list.

The 15 languages and dialects on the setup page

Microsoft's setup page names these entries, which is the list the download step uses.

Microsoft's setup page introduces the list with the words "currently available in the following languages and dialects" and then names the entries above. Microsoft also says the language files for the one you choose are downloaded during setup, and that you can switch later.

Microsoft's other pages name fewer languages

Microsoft publishes three different Voice Access lists, and they do not agree. The setup page is the longest. The command list says the feature is currently available in six languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Chinese and Japanese ². The FAQ says four: English, Spanish, French and German ³.

We treat the setup page as the working list, because it is the only one tied to the download step. Microsoft does not explain the difference, so do not rely on the shorter counts alone. The language list on your own PC's setup screen is the final check, because that is the list you download from.

Portuguese and Spanish: what to use for each

Voice Access has Spanish, with Spain and Mexico as the two variants ¹. It has no Portuguese, so there is no Portuguese language to download in Voice Access.

For Portuguese on Windows 11, use voice typing instead. Microsoft's voice typing list includes Portuguese (Brazil) and Portuguese (Portugal) among its 46 languages and regional variants ⁴. Press Windows key + H in a text box to start it. Our answer on changing the voice typing language in Windows 11 explains how to install and switch to it.

Downloads, internet and how to change the language

Voice Access is set up with the language you choose on the welcome screen, and it downloads the language files for that choice. A language that has not been downloaded cannot be used yet.

1. Select Start, search for Voice access, and open it.
2. On the welcome screen, choose your language and select Agree and continue.
3. Wait for the download. The first setup needs an internet connection ⁵.

To change the language later, open Voice access settings, then Languages ⁶. After the download, Voice Access controls the PC and writes text without an internet connection ⁷.

Voice Access needs Windows 11 version 22H2 or later. On an older Windows 11 version, check your version first.

It depends: your display language and your speech

Your Windows display language does not have to be on the list. If it is not supported, you can still choose a supported language on the setup screen and use it ⁸. Choose the dictation language, not the display language, on that screen.

A listed language is supported, not guaranteed accurate. Accent, microphone and background noise all change results. If a supported language does poorly, work through Windows dictation not working and check your microphone first.

What to do next

1. Open Voice access settings and select Languages to see which languages are ready and which need a download.
2. If your language is on the 15-entry list, download it and dictate a test sentence.
3. If it is not, use voice typing for the languages it covers, such as Portuguese, or read which languages Windows 10 dictation supports if you are on an older PC.

Our guide to Voice Access in Windows 11 covers setup, and the Windows dictation languages guide puts all three Windows lists side by side. The speech pack term explains the language files that Voice Access downloads, and our overview of dictation on Windows compares the built-in tools.